**Cardiff Council Acknowledges Responsibility for Data Breach Affecting Parents’ Details**
Cardiff Council has accepted accountability for a recent data security lapse which resulted in the email addresses of local parents being disclosed by mistake. The breach has raised concerns over data protection procedures within the council, especially given the sensitive nature of the information involved and the council’s pivotal role in managing support for families.
The error occurred in May 2025, when an email was issued to parents eligible for the Childcare Offer for Wales, a government scheme designed to help families with early education and childcare costs. The council intended the message to provide parents with information ahead of the summer half-term. However, due to a mistake, the recipients’ email addresses were placed in the visible ‘to’ field rather than the discreet ‘bcc’ (blind carbon copy) field, inadvertently exposing the details to all other addressees.
Officials from Cardiff Council were quick to respond to the incident. Later the same day, a follow-up message was distributed directly to those affected. This email apologised for the breach, urged parents to delete the original email, and reassured recipients that steps were being taken to avoid similar incidents in future. The council stated that their internal reporting protocols were activated immediately, in line with established data protection guidelines.
A spokesperson for Cardiff Council clarified, “Cardiff Council is aware that a data breach occurred on 15 May this year. The breach resulted from human error and Cardiff Council’s reporting procedures were followed promptly and appropriately.” The spokesperson also stressed the organisation’s commitment to enhancing its data management and staff training efforts to minimise the risk of repeat mistakes.
The Childcare Offer for Wales provides substantial support, enabling eligible parents to access up to 30 hours of combined early education and childcare per week, over a maximum of 48 weeks annually. Local authorities in Wales are tasked with the administration of this programme, working to ensure that public funds reach those in need while also upholding strict standards around data safety and privacy.
Commentary from data protection advocates has highlighted the persistent challenge of human error in the handling of sensitive information, even within well-regulated organisations such as local councils. Incidents of this type are often the result of simple mistakes, underscoring the need for continual vigilance and updated staff training in data protection protocols, especially when dealing with vulnerable groups like young families.
This latest breach is not the first to be reported by Cardiff Council. In March 2025, it came to light that personal details of vulnerable children under the council’s care had also been compromised in a separate incident. That case involved an external breach linked to Data Cymru, prompting further enquiries into what specific data was affected and how the situation was resolved.
Members of the council’s governance and audit committee have been kept updated about the incidents, with senior officials addressing the steps taken in response at meetings. Cardiff Council has reiterated its dedication to learning from these lapses and instituting stronger preventative measures.
The impact of such breaches extends beyond administrative inconvenience. For affected parents, the event undoubtedly sparked anxiety about their personal information being circulated more widely than intended. In the context of increasing digital communication between local authorities and citizens, maintaining public trust remains a top priority for officials.
The council continues to liaise with stakeholders and the wider public to restore confidence in its safeguarding of data. As digital channels become ever more central in the delivery of public services, Cardiff Council faces ongoing expectations to not only provide efficient support for local families, but to do so with the highest standard of information security.